“I just thought, since you know way more about the media than he does, maybe you could help me out,” she said, trying her best to sound casual. But Lucas could hear the strain in Sandra’s voice, the way she was trying to hide how upset she really was.
It broke his heart. Sandra had been through hell lately—her reputation in shambles, her family’s company bankrupt, the Taylors all but blacklisted in town. But to Lucas, she was still perfect. His goddess.
If Sandra had done anything wrong, Lucas sure couldn’t see it. No, the one to blame was Camila Davis. That manipulative woman! She and Lucas’s brother were divorced, but she still kept stringing him along. And now, Sandra was the one suffering for it, even though she was the one trying to get to the bottom of things.
Who did Camila think she was, anyway?
Lucas’s blood boiled. Camila might have climbed the social ladder since the divorce, but in his eyes, she was still just a gold-digger, someone who only got ahead by hanging onto powerful men—especially her so-called “mentor.” The internet trolls weren’t wrong about her, Lucas thought bitterly. That “mentor” of hers was probably cut from the same shady cloth.
This wasn’t something that even needed investigating.
He told Sandra, “You know what, Sandra? Don’t waste your energy on that woman. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. If those people were really innocent, why would anyone throw dirt at them? I’d bet good money Eric Morris actually did what they’re saying.”
“And look at the way the news about him keeps getting swept under the rug—no official statement, just a sudden drop in buzz. You can bet that’s them pulling strings behind the scenes.”
Sandra put on an innocent act. “Really? I don’t know much about that stuff.”
Lucas was quick to reassure her. “Absolutely. But don’t worry, I’ll handle it for you.”
“Thanks, Lucas. I really appreciate it,” Sandra said, her tone softening now that she’d gotten what she wanted.
Since Sandra almost never reached out to him, Lucas was extra eager to help this time. As soon as they hung up, he got his people on it.
When his team reported back that someone really was working overtime to keep Eric Morris’s scandal out of the spotlight, Lucas didn’t hesitate—he had The Smith Group, his family’s powerful media empire, crank the story right back up.
The Smith Group was the wealthiest family business in all of Harrisburg. Not even Dennis Williams, with all his connections and influence, could put a stop to them—at least, not right away.
Soon, the online outrage against Eric Morris flared up again. Hashtags like #EricMorrisUnfitForHisRole were trending all over social media, with people demanding answers:
“Why’s Eric Morris hiding and not speaking up? Guilty much?”
“If he’s so innocent, why won’t he make a statement?”
“He got knocked out in that accident, but not so badly he’d still be in a coma, right?”


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